Big Bank Execs: What They Take Home
February 10, 2009
When times were good, the top executives from the largest U.S. banks made a mint. Below is the total compensation in 2007 for the 9 banks that received the first batch of government aid through TARP. read more
No Layoffs – EVER
February 1, 2009
Fortune Magazine put together a list of the top 10 companies that have never laid anyone off. Great idea. read more
The Power Of Renegotiation
January 27, 2009
Small companies are finding that almost everything is renegotiable these days.
The economic downturn is prompting business owners — by necessity or by opportunity — to re-examine contracts with suppliers, vendors or landlords and come up with creative deals. And in many cases, they are saving a substantial sum of money. read more
Venture Capital Financing Slows Amid Economic Downturn
October 27, 2008
Silicon Valley technology startups are adopting a new business plan: deferral.
MerchantCircle Inc., a Los Altos, Calif., Internet startup, typifies the trend. Last month, company founder Ben Smith was in New York talking to media companies about raising $50 million, with which he planned to make acquisitions to fuel MerchantCircle’s growth. But as the financial markets tumbled this month, Mr. Smith canceled two trips to New York and a roadshow to Europe to raise the capital. For now, the fundraising is on the backburner.
“When we started the year we were pushing really hard for growth,” says Mr. Smith, who in 2005 founded MerchantCircle, which provides online advertising services for small businesses. “That’s just not as important anymore. Now it’s all about cash flow.” read more